What is Controlled Vocabulary and why do I need to use it?
Please follow the link below for some tips on using controlled vocabularly. (Provided by Weber State University Library)

Controlled vocabulary for searching the library databases and catalog.

 SHAKESPEARE, William, 1564-1616 + combination of any of the following words:

            Authorship

            Characters

            Criticism & interpretation

            Drama

            Film adaptations

            Language

            Religion

AUTHORSHIP

Book Reviews

CHARACTERS

CRITICISM

CRITICISM & interpretation

CRITICISM, Textual

DRAMA

ENGLAND

ESSAY

HISTORY

RELIGION

THEATER

Want to know more about creating effective searches using boolean operators? Follow the link below for information from UNC Asheville Libraries.

How can I improve my search?

If you got too few results try one or more of these tips:

• Use an OR with synonyms to broaden your search

• Consult a thesaurus or index for more search terms

• Reduce the number of concepts

• Use more general terms

• Use truncation to get variations or alternate spellings of your term

• Use the broadest search possible (usually Keywords in most databases)

• Check your spelling

• Check to see if you used AND and OR properly

• Check to see if you are using the best database for your topic

If you get too many results try one or more of these tips:

• Use an AND to narrow your search

• Use limits such as language, years or document type

• Use more precise terms

• Use subject headings instead of Keywords

• Consult a thesaurus or index for more narrower terms

• Remove truncation

• Search in a specific field, such as the Subject or Title field, instead of searching Keywords.